And one of his favorites for the past decade is Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg.

“I think Zetterberg is the best player in the game (at his age),” Gretzky told NHL.com. “He’s been so physically beat up from the Stanley Cup playoffs, Olympics, all that goes with that, but he’s just very special. I think he’s the best Swedish player they’ve ever put into the National Hockey League, and there has been a lot of great ones, from (Borje) Salming to (Nicklas) Lidstrom.”

Zetterberg was surprised and humbled to be in the same category as some of the best Swedish-born players, which also includes Mats Sundin and Peter Forsberg, to have come and excelled in the NHL.

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“Considering all the guys that have been over here, I don’t know if I can agree with him,” Zetterberg said. “I got a long way to reach up to some of the Swedish players who’ve been here for many, many years.

“It’s a great honor to have a player of that stature say things like that about you,” Zetterberg added. “I didn’t believe it at first. I had to go to Goggle to make sure no one was pulling a prank on me.”

Gretzky, who also spoke highly of the Wings’ forward when he coached the Phoenix Coyotes, was Zetterberg’s first big idol.

“If he’s happy with the way I’m playing then I’m happy,” said Zetterberg, who was around eight years old when he became a fan of Gretzky. “When he got traded to (Los Angeles, in 1988), that’s when we started following him more. He was the best player in the game, so of course he was big in Sweden as well.”

Zetterberg is certainly living up to Gretzky’s words this season. He leads the league in assists with 13 and is third in scoring with 18 points.

It was a mental toughness day for sure.

“When I watch Zetterberg he’s the Energizer Bunny,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “He just keeps coming. He doesn’t care who it is or who he’s playing. The best of the best are ultra-competitive and they bring it every single day. They don’t have it every day, but they bring it. Those guys are our best players and they drive our bus.

“They have to play well for us and they are,” Babcock continued. “You don’t have to get them started or beg them to play. They come to play every night.”

Tootoo makes Top 10 list

The Wings jumped on Jordin Tootoo once free agency opened last offseason and inked the forward to a three-year deal adding an agitator with a bit of an offensive upside for the first time in a number of seasons.

Due to his agitating abilities, Tootoo landed on Sports Illustrated’s list of Top 10 Most Hated Players in the NHL, slotting in at No. 8.

“Part of my job is to create havoc out there and get under people’s skin,” Tootoo said after Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Kings. “You’re brought into this league to do a certain thing. It just goes to show that I’m doing my job.”

Tootoo leads the team with 30 minutes in penalties and four fighting majors.

“It’s part of being a role player,” Tootoo said. “Everyone has roles on the team and that’s what brings 22 guys together. It’s the little things that count. Maybe your average fans might not know it but the guys in the dressing room realize that’s a big part of the game.

“It’s a work in progress,” Tootoo continued. “It doesn’t matter how many minutes you play, you want to do your job and help the team win. Throughout my career, I’ve been a notable player to do that. It takes a little bit of skill, a little bit of heart and willpower. I’m not the biggest player out there.”

Here’s what SI’s Allan Muir wrote, “Tootoo earned his shot in the NHL as a high-energy winger who could send a message with a thundering body check. He’s since gained a reputation as a careless player, someone who’ll hit too high, too low or too late. He’s been suspended multiple times, most recently for running Ryan Miller.”

MacDonald claimed off waivers

Goalie Joey MacDonald, 33, was claimed off waivers by the Calgary Flames, who were in need of a goalie after starter Miikka Kiprusoff sprained his MCL last Tuesday against the Wings. MacDonald, who was just cleared to play, hasn’t played in a game since March 14 when his back flared up in a 4-0 loss in Anaheim.

Last season, MacDonald won seven games in a row as the starter and finished 8-5-1 with a 2.16 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

MacDonald is in the final year of a one-way contract at $550,000, which means he’ll get paid the same amount of money if he’s in the NHL or minors.

For his career, MacDonald is 31-48-13, with a 3.04 GAA and .903 save percentage.

It’s the second time MacDonald has been claimed off waivers. The Boston Bruins claimed him from the Wings in 2007.

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